Giro d’Italia chief Remco Evenepoel was compelled to pull out of the race late on Sunday after contracting Covid-19, gifting Geraint Thomas the pink jersey as the brand new general chief.
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The dramatic information got here simply hours after Evenepoel had reclaimed the general lead by profitable the 35km stage 9 particular person time-trial from Thomas.
“I am really sorry to be leaving the race. As part of the team’s protocol, I took a routine test, which unfortunately was positive,” mentioned the world champion in a workforce assertion.
Bitter blow
His compelled withdrawal is a bitter blow for the 23-year-old Belgian, who was the favorite so as to add the Giro to his Vuelta a Espana victory.
“My experience here has been really special and I was looking forward to competing over the next two weeks,” Evenepoel added.
“I can’t thank enough the staff and the riders who sacrificed so much in preparation for the Giro. I will be cheering them on over the next two weeks,” added he rider who will journey residence on Monday by automobile.
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After his gritty stage win Evenepoel had hinted that one thing was amiss when he mentioned: “I hope I’m not falling ill”.
“It explains everything,” mentioned his workforce supervisor Patrick Lefevere.
“I hope that everyone will respect his period of recovery and his private life. He is going to return strong,” Lefevere added.
Soudal Quick-Step mentioned that every one their different riders and employees examined destructive.
Colombian rider Rigoberto Uran has additionally pulled out of the race with Covid, his workforce EF Education introduced whereas three Jumbo riders have been additionally withdrawn on the eve of the 2023 version.
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Remco Evenepoel’s shock information left Ineos Grenadier’s Thomas, adrift 45 seconds earlier than Evenepoel’s exit, heading the final classification by two seconds from Primoz Roglic forward of Monday’s relaxation day.
The greatest shock of the difficult stage 9 was the 2018 Tour de France champion Thomas who timed 41:25, one second slower than Evenepoel however one second sooner than his Ineos team-mate Teo Geoghegan Hart.
Thomas gained the 2020 Giro time trial in Sicily solely to crash out a couple of days later as Hart went on to elevate the title.
Hart is now third within the standings with Joao Almeida in fourth.
“That was close. It was good to be in the mix with Tao. It looks promising,” mentioned the 36-year-old Welshman earlier than information of Evenepoel’s constructive take a look at.
In the stage, riders have been compelled right into a prudent strategy given the rain-slick city streets and cobbled surfaces as the highest 5 on the day have been separated by simply eight seconds.
Team UAE chief Almeida additionally felt he may have carried out higher.
“With the rain it was slippy,” he mentioned.
“With all the corners it was a gamble. All in all I was happy though,” mentioned the Portuguese rider.
Another man who had been tipped to win on this pizza-flat route was Ineos velocity king Filippo Ganna, who pulled out forward of Saturday’s stage, additionally with Covid.
Overnight chief, Norway’s Andreas Leknessund made a valiant effort to retain his pink jersey, however dropped to sixth, now fifth, general.
As Evenepoel heads residence, the peloton will get its first relaxation day on Monday earlier than two mountain and three hilly levels in week two with the race veering into Switzerland the place the Crans Montana and the Col du Grand Saint Bernard at 2 469m altitude await any pretender to this 106th Giro.
Revised general Giro d’Italia standings:
1. Geraint Thomas (GBR/INE) 34hrs 34min 27sec, 2. Primoz Roglic (SLO/JUM) at 2sec, 3. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBR/INE) 5, 4. Joao Almeida (POR/UAE) 22, 5. Andreas Leknessund (NOR/DSM) 22, 6. Aleksander Vlasov (RUS/BOR) 1:03, 7. Damiano Caruso (ITA/BAH) 1:28, 8. Lennard Kämna (GER/BOR) 1:52, 9. Pavel Sivakov (FRA/INE) 2:15, 10. Jay Vine (AUS/UAE) 2:24.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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